Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-05-19


ble, and Yet an act patent to the meanes
understanding. Perhaps il fiattered one
generosity, for ii seemed to put him al
disadvantage as child might be placed
and his weakness called out your forbear
snce and protection. Or il was more SIMS
ter, like the movements OF u snake trying
TO conceal itself in scanty thicket whicl
hid the cold small eyes and 1.-THE neck, hu
left TO the light glttering loop here,
smooth, scaled tail there.
This night he WAS in Il communicative
almost Il garrulonS. mood. and by som,
now forgotten train of talk hit upon
curious story Of brother artist-wh!
thereon did not realize until on review
ing it. there seemed 10 be moral in it
or, al any rate an indication in the dircc
fion of thar hobby of his. the church il
which he Was educated. That might ac
count for his having begun To tell il /,
me. Certainly not a blameworthy thinl
after all. for this odd proselyting spiri
seemed ihe most genuine sentiment i'll
character almost entirely given over Il
the worship Of self
did not pay much attention 10 what h,
was saying AT first, because it WAS in re
gard 10 artists who stole his ideas, AMI or
that topic had enjoyed a varied assert
ment of stories, some of which had fuun
dation in fact: the most of them, however
were rank fables. But when he began I,
talk about an artist who WAS Catholic
began I" prick up my ears. Is he,
vaguely pondered. about 10 perform one
of his feats Of conCealment and reNea
himself to me under the Childlike belie
that he has put me quite of the SCENT
watched him in the freight and noted the
pallor of his hong face a countenance moi
/ unlike those ugly but attractive men al
the court Of Queen Elizabeth, narrow
faced long jawed, weak in one way
I strong in another. His long forefngeI
reached up beside his lean check and hol
( low temples till il was lost in his hair and
{ a great elf lock OF the latter fell un his
gaunt wrist SUmber eyes gaZed raptly
i in the Goals and between the choketi
1 paIises the words came thick and quick.
/ An idea struck me suddenly. Not any
longer practical Catholic, was the need
OF COnfessing himself working within, and
/ causing him 10 tell me. his acquaintance,
what he ought 10 have told 10 some whom
I he considered commissioned by heaven TO
hear him
There WAS a fellow student Of mine -
he said, in sentences interrupted by pauses
of which he took no heed. who had an
order from church TO paint a Madonna
IL WAS the occasion of his life. for he had
lived hitherto i'll grim fight with starya-
tion, having been too proud TO apply to
his relatives for belp in his distress Money
was given him to buy materials and hire
models; he went away for a week into the
country TO be absolutely alone. and finding
that the country was less lonely than the
town. returned and did little but haunt
the churches. He was a good Catholic
then and complied with ali the regulations
Of the church At last-the idea he
sought came TO him-hut not at church
Oh. no. not while good thoughts were in
his mind-but al the opera while a ballet
was being performed. He had gone there.
SO he told me, to escape from the pressure
of worry over tins picture. Chance had
il that among the crowd on the stage per
forming part in the chorus after a fashion
was face which. II not in all respects
fitted for a Madonna, was 10 the artist 5
eye perfect as model. That feature
changed a bit. the oaher enlarged-snd
there was the Queen OF Heaven, like and
vet unlike the type handed down with all
the imposing traditions of Italy My
friend was wild with delight He be
sieged the box Office and guarded the exit
from the stage. At last his divinity ap-
peared. shabby. demure. angered al his
impetuous address, but at last modified
interested, appea>ed, and in fine pers Iaded
tn come 10 his studio the following day.
she was young, she was lovely. she
was virtuOus girl from he country. whom
a series of cruel disasters had thrown on
her own resources and il was not long be
fore my friend came To value. admire, &c
love her in his own way-not a good WAY,
it seems-and give her plainly 10 know his
feelings The folly Of it viii NOT be real
lied by you who are not an artist. for If
there il one thing more insane than another
il il for an artist To think Of his model in
any but a severely professional way
However, my friend was Young and fool
lsh: lie was very. very lonely: and ~ was
she. They lunch-d together. walked to
gether. read together. lie taught her 50
he thought. 10 he Il Christian. for she had
belonged To some queer sect or other that
protests AGAINST SroiestanIs, such a. our
country ahbunds in. The Madonna was
almost, nay, it WAS quite finished which,
what might have been foretold occurred.
There was a week of bliss month Of
igony, and one morning her hat and veil
were found oil pier. The great river, in
whose bsbbling springs she had dabbled
her childish feet. took her TO its bosom.
away from the unkindness. the vileness
Of mankind. -
Brown mad brought the lean, long hand
before his face. but caught the glitter Of
moisture on his cheek and his voice was
husky
And the Madonna is now>'
Gone He could never bear TO look AT
it again. Taking his colors again after
year had passed away he obliterated the
whole picture. over that he painted
view Of the North river as one may see Il
ia winter al nightfsll. when the ferry
boats crunch through floating ice and the
steamers chafe and groan at their moor
ings, when the air is full Of sleet and the
lights of vessels in midstream gaze al YOU
like the eyes Of baleful monsters. Oh. |
what fool that man WAS First 10 allow !
himself TO love model, then to tritie with |
her. then-but nonsense What is IL to |
me- Curse him, To cap it all-such a
painting a. that. \ melodramatic thing, /
Instead of covering her with daisies and |
hurtercup-. planting above her beautiful .
trees that might whisper comfort 10 the .
poor thing, aud shower blossoms on her |
grave. giving her at least after death the /
Of n glorious sky and view .
Of earth, sea. heaven and Gods bright |
sun, Curse him. the TOOL, the fool
| held my breath al this incoherent out
bsrst. incapable Of -sying anything and .
horribly convinced that my wretche,i .
friend, perhaps with certain distortions OF .
iarI IL he c.nna-a-.lx used, was relating To
ne no less an incident than :he one which |
iad changed aud blighted hi- life
But what nonsense / am talking he
continued, my poor friends
NOV friend rnnll NOT i.e hn,inn nt oil